Giants go for NLDS clinch behind Bumgarner in Game 3

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy said this morning Ryan Vogelsong is in line to start a potential Game 4 of their N.L. Division Series against the Nationals, with Jake Peavy set for Game 5.

But the Giants, of course, hope things won’t get that far. They have a shot to clinch today behind Madison Bumgarner at AT&T Park, where it’s a warm, cloudless afternoon for a 2:07 p.m. PT start.

The Giants went up 2-0 with their 18-inning, 2-1 win in Washington on Saturday night. Buster Posey caught all 18 innings, and Bochy admitted he had "some concern" about Posey physically but that "he’s good. He’s good to go."

"They’re all fine," Bochy said. "As far as the toll it took on them, at this stage of the game, playoffs, you’re running on adrenaline."

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The Giants bullpen should be fresh thanks to Yusmeiro Petit’s six scoreless innings. The right-hander was given pre-game press conference duties today, and when asked jokingly how many innings he would be good for today, Petit replied, in seriousness: "I think I am ready for three."

"You know what, if needed, I think he could give us an inning or two today," Bochy said, also serious.

* Washington’s lineup, obviously, does not include Ryan Zimmerman, the right-handed third baseman and left fielder who has not started any of the games this series. Against Bumgarner, Zimmerman is 3-for-17 in his career with one home run, and manager Matt Williams said those numbers and wanting to "play good defense behind Doug" factored into the decision not to start Zimmerman.

* If you missed it, today’s print story was on Game 2 hero Brandon Belt and the road he took to return from his second-half concussion to help the Giants in October.

* Some encouraging numbers for the Giants: Teams leading a best-of-five playoff series 2-0 in MLB history have gone on to win the series 87 percent of the time (62 of 70). Of course, the Giants also know better than to rely on odds; they were the last team to come back from a 2-0 deficit, in the NLDS against Cincinnati two years ago.

* Pablo Sandoval’s 13-game postseason hitting streak is the longest in Giants history, the longest current streak in the majors and the second-longest ever by an N.L. player behind Marquis Grissom, who hit in 15 straight from 1995-96.

* A reporter this morning started to ask Bochy if there was any thought of pinch-running for Posey in the ninth inning Saturday. "From you, maybe," Bochy said. He said that was not even a thought.